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17 Feb 2012 13:35

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World: German president resigns amid political favors scandal

Christian Wulff, shown with his wife Bettina, had to resign amid allegations of offering political favors while the premier of Lower Saxony. He faced calls for his resignation for weeks, and may not have legal immunity for any crimes committed. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Dec 2011 11:05

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World: Deutsche Bank CEO targeted in mail-bombing incident

  • The return address was listed as a European central bank, which would likely increase the chances of him opening it.
  • New York Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne • Discussing the package received by Josef Ackermann, the CEO of Germany’s Deutsche Bank, which contained a fully-functioning bomb. The bomb didn’t detonate and was intercepted before it reached the CEO. Officials are saying that mail rooms at financial institutions should tighter up their security after the incident. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Dec 2011 09:30

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World: German town discovers WWII bombs hiding in Rhine River

  • 45,000 people evacuated over old bombs source
  • » They were hiding in a river: In one of the weirder discoveries since the end of WWII, record-low water levels in the Western German city of Koblenz exposed old bombs from the latter part of the war — including a 1.8-ton bomb that would be big enough to destroy the city center. It’s a very sensitive situation and one that officials are very careful to handle only without people nearby. “Only when we are sure that all of the 45,000 Germans have left the town (can) the regional bomb-disposal squad start to operate,” said brigade spokesman Ronald Eppelsheim.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Sep 2011 00:19

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World: There’s something world leaders don’t say every day

  • Berlusconi’s back: In a move that probably won’t help German-Italian relations, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was caught on tape referring to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as an “unf@#kable lard-ass.” These are harsh words from the lothario Berlusconi; while he’s admitted to being “a bit mischievous” with his sexual exploits, he’s also insisted that he treats women with the utmost respect. Hopefully this won’t spark an international crisis (Reuters photo). source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Sep 2011 10:22

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World: Angela Merkel sticks to her fiscal guns amidst hostile political environment

  • We must make it very clear to people that the current problem, namely of excessive debt built up over decades, cannot be solved in one blow, with things like euro bonds or debt restructurings that will suddenly make everything okay. No, this will be a long, hard path, but one that is right for the future of Europe.
  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel • Arguing, amidst much jeering from leftist opposition parties, that Europe needs to change the way it approaches its growing debt crisis. Merkel argues for long-term fundamental change. “I’m convinced that this crisis, if a great crisis of the western world is to be avoided,” she said, “cannot be fought with a ‘carry on’ attitude. We need a fundamental rethink.” Merkel is facing a parliamentary vote later this month that could prove a great threat to her power, and her party is sinking in the polls right now. She suffered a setback earlier in the day after a court put strict limitations requiring her to get approval from lawmakers to grant future bailout aid to other European countries. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Aug 2011 15:04

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Culture: Angela Merkel is Forbes’ most powerful woman in 2011

  • germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel received the top spot on the Forbes list of the 100 most powerful women in 2011. Merkel’s position as a leader in the EU has grown amidst the dire economic crises facing some other member states.
  • america The second-place spot was given to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, though she’s not the only politically minded American woman on the list — GOP candidate Michele Bachmann clocks in at #22, and Sarah Palin at #34. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Aug 2011 16:14

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World: France and Germany are doing their best to help the economy

  • Germany and France feel absolutely determined to strengthen the Euro as our common currency and further develop it.
  • Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor • Talking about Germany and France’s new plan of joint taxation. They’re drawing up plans to have a common corporate tax rate beginning in 2013. Both countries are having difficult economic issues, in fact Germany’s GDP only grew 0.1% from March to June, which means it’s basically at a standstill. Germany and France are hoping that joint taxation would strengthen confidence in the Euro, which would be great for both their economies.  source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

23 Jun 2011 16:12

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U.S.: Arizona man’s death possibly due to German E.coli outbreak?

  • The man reportedly visited Germany recently. The rare and dangerous form of E.coli in Germany, first discovered in May has already killed dozens of people in Europe. Now, it’s possible the epidemic has killed an American. Tests are still pending to see if it is that extra-deadly strain of E coli has made it stateside. But he wouldn’t be the first person to bring the bug home with them to the U.S. — on top of sickening over 3,800 Europeans, the disease has hit recent travelers from Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Jun 2011 21:40

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World: Americans win “World’s Funniest People” award…but is that a good thing?

  • americans are funny. At least, that was the conclusion drawn from a survey by social networking site Badoo (who?), in which 30,000 people in 15 countries were asked to name the world’s funniest citizens. Americans came out on top, with Spaniards and Italians taking second and third, respectively. But wait–what exactly did they mean by “funny?” Was it in a, “That joke was hilarious!” sort of way, or a “You have toilet paper stuck to your shoe and nobody’s telling you” sort of way? We don’t know, so we’re not sure whether or not Americans should rejoice at this news. Similarly, should Germany be proud or embarrassed that they came in dead last? source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Jun 2011 10:37

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World: Rare German strain of E.coli “more virulent and toxin-producing”

  • This is a unique strain that has never been isolated from patients before … [it has] various characteristics that make it more virulent and toxin-producing.
  • World Health Organization food safety expert Hilde Kruse • Describing what makes the mutant strain of E.coli — the one found mostly in Germany at this point — much more dangerous than previous versions. The disease, which sickened more than 1,500 and left nearly 500 with a rare type of kidney failure, is the third-largest outbreak of E.coli ever. So, where did it come from? “One should think of an animal source,” Kruse suggested. “Many animals are hosts of various types of toxin-producing E. coli.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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